Friday, April 23, 2010
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Chickens in Winnipeg?!
It may be happening in your own neighbourhood.
If the chicken lobby group is successful, we just may be enjoying our own fresh eggs before too long.
Here's keeping our fingers crossed!
If the chicken lobby group is successful, we just may be enjoying our own fresh eggs before too long.
Here's keeping our fingers crossed!
Don't Be Calling Me
Several weeks ago there was a message on my voice mail from a local TV station asking for my opinion on something. It reminded me of another time when Ben and I were invited to come to a "town hall" meeting. The provincial government at that time held several meetings during the election to give voters a chance to voice their opinions and concerns about various issues that were important to them.
In the discussion that I had with the producer before the meeting, I was told that I could ask questions of the 4 politicians on stage but I was absolutely not allowed to give an opinion. Ben (who was 13 or 14 at the time) and I came up with several carefully worded questions. This particular town hall focussed on education and we were told that there would be an open discussion on private vs public education. My children attended an independent school and I knew the controversy that surrounded this debate so I was prepared for some lively debate.
Unfortunately, what happened there was not at all what I anticipated. Half way through the meeting I realized that the facilitator knew exactly what she wanted to happen and directed the questions and her comments in such a way that no matter what was said, she would get her point across. She was very good. I don't recall the question she asked Ben but it had something to do with how the 2 school systems were different.
In my mind, this was such an unfair question. I wanted to ask her how Ben could possibly respond because he had never attended a public school. Ben shared something about how great his school was and then I heard an audible groan coming from the audience. I learned later that the "average people" in the audience were almost all teachers in the public school system. This group has always been vocal in their criticism of the independent schools.
I was then given an opportunity to ask one question of the politicians. Three of the four politicians did not answer my question at all; they simply stated their party's official stand on the debate. Only one of the four answered my question honestly and even though we had differing opinions, I felt that we could have had an honest discussion. Other people in the audience did not follow the "only ask questions" rule and there were a number of comments made about independent schools that were just wrong. But I was not given an opportunity to respond.
There have been other occasions over the years where the same television station called me to ask if I would be part of some discussions pertaining to education. I have always declined.
I returned the phone call to the station of a few weeks ago but I suppose that they found someone else to speak with. I'm happy that I didn't find myself in the same situation of years ago but it also made me sad. I'm sure I'm not the only person who has had this experience. How many other sane, reasonable people decline to be interviewed, knowing that their words will be twisted and changed just to get the story that the journalist wants?
disclaimer: I didn't write this post to start a discussion about public and private education so if you want to comment on that, write your own post on your own blog!
In the discussion that I had with the producer before the meeting, I was told that I could ask questions of the 4 politicians on stage but I was absolutely not allowed to give an opinion. Ben (who was 13 or 14 at the time) and I came up with several carefully worded questions. This particular town hall focussed on education and we were told that there would be an open discussion on private vs public education. My children attended an independent school and I knew the controversy that surrounded this debate so I was prepared for some lively debate.
Unfortunately, what happened there was not at all what I anticipated. Half way through the meeting I realized that the facilitator knew exactly what she wanted to happen and directed the questions and her comments in such a way that no matter what was said, she would get her point across. She was very good. I don't recall the question she asked Ben but it had something to do with how the 2 school systems were different.
In my mind, this was such an unfair question. I wanted to ask her how Ben could possibly respond because he had never attended a public school. Ben shared something about how great his school was and then I heard an audible groan coming from the audience. I learned later that the "average people" in the audience were almost all teachers in the public school system. This group has always been vocal in their criticism of the independent schools.
I was then given an opportunity to ask one question of the politicians. Three of the four politicians did not answer my question at all; they simply stated their party's official stand on the debate. Only one of the four answered my question honestly and even though we had differing opinions, I felt that we could have had an honest discussion. Other people in the audience did not follow the "only ask questions" rule and there were a number of comments made about independent schools that were just wrong. But I was not given an opportunity to respond.
There have been other occasions over the years where the same television station called me to ask if I would be part of some discussions pertaining to education. I have always declined.
I returned the phone call to the station of a few weeks ago but I suppose that they found someone else to speak with. I'm happy that I didn't find myself in the same situation of years ago but it also made me sad. I'm sure I'm not the only person who has had this experience. How many other sane, reasonable people decline to be interviewed, knowing that their words will be twisted and changed just to get the story that the journalist wants?
disclaimer: I didn't write this post to start a discussion about public and private education so if you want to comment on that, write your own post on your own blog!
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